MOSCOW, Idaho - Idaho welcomes Portland State Saturday for a 12 p.m. kickoff in the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. The Vandals are now 4-2 on the year and jumped into the FCS rankings after a 30-23 win over Montana Saturday in Missoula.
Gevani McCoy was named the Big Sky Co-Offensive Player of the Week while
Hayden Hatten was named the NCAA.com FCS Player of the Week. Idaho is 4-0 against FCS opponents and 3-0 in conference for the first time since 2006. Portland State is 2-4 with wins at home against NAU and Lincoln (Calif.) an upstart NAIA program.
ABOUT IDAHO: The Vandals are on a four-game winning streak and haven't lost to an FCS opponent this year.
Gevani McCoy is third in the FCS in completion percentage while still stretching the field at 10th in the FCS in yards per completion. The Vandals are first in time of possession, second in turnover margin and second in redzone offense in the FCS. On the defensive side of the ball, Idaho has allowed just 65.5 yards per game rushing against FCS opponents. The Vandals are 16th in the FCS in total defense. Fa'avae Fa'avae is second in the Big Sky in tackles and
Paul Moala and
Tommy McCormick have three interceptions each.
ABOUT PORTLAND STATE: The Vikings started the season with three straight road games, dropping all three before playing three home games. PSU picked up wins over NAU (35-27) and Lincoln (Calif.) (48-6), but have lost games to San Jose State (21-17), Washington(52-6), Montana (53-16) and Weber State (42-7). PSU ranks 91st in total offense and 65th in total defense. Dante Chachere leads the Vikings in both passing and rushing. E.J. Ane has a team-high 27 tackles and three sacks.
PICK SIX
1. QB PERFORMANCE: In just six games this season,
Gevani McCoy has been a revelation. He is third in the FCS in completion percentage (73.7%) and fifth in the FCS in efficiency (170.9). When you include just FCS games, those numbers jump to 80.4% completion percentage and 187.2 efficiency rating. In just six games, he has passed for more yards (1,359) than any Vandal player a year ago. McCoy was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Thursday and was the Big Sky Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Vandals to the win over Montana. Idaho still has a pair of quarterbacks with game experience to back him up in
CJ Jordan and J'Borre Gibbs. True freshman quarterback
Jack Layne was given time at the QB position against Drake in a chance to get him playing experience while preserving his redshirt.
2. INTO THE RANKINGS: The Vandals jumped into the FCS Rankings after topping Montana 30-23 on the raod in the Battle for the Little Brown Stein. Idaho moved to 17th in the Stats Perform FCS Poll and 24th in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The ranking is the first since the spring 2021 season and the first under first-year head coach
Jason Eck.
3. TURNOVERS: Despite playing games against Power Five opponents, the Vandals are up big time in the turnover margin. Idaho has 12 takeaways to just three turnovers. Good enough for the second-best turnover margin in the FCS. In just five games, the Vandals topped the takeaway number from a season ago. Combined with the best time of possession mark in the FCS, Idaho is controlling the ball.
4. IMPACT TRANSFERS: Six new transfers are listed on the Vandal defensive two-deep, two transfers are listed on the offensive list and one special teams player a and made an immediate.
Paul Moala, a linebacker transfer from Notre Dame forced a fumble against WSU, made a goalline stop against Indiana and has two interceptions on the season.
Juliano Falaniko, a defensive end transfer from USC had seven tackles and a sack so far.
Mathias Bertram a safety from New Mexico had nine total tackles in the season opener. Former NAIA All-American
Jason Hahlbeck, a transfer from Morningside College, was back in the lineup after missing the WSU game. Junior college transfer
Ricardo Chavez is 10-10 on the year for field goals and leads the FCS in made field goals and percentage. JC transfer
Murvin Kenion III forced a fumble against Indiana and has two interceptions.
5. RECEIVERS: Hayden Hatten had a breakout game against Northern Colorado with 131 yards receiving and two touchdowns and followed that up with 149 yards and two scores against Montana, earning NCAA.com FCS Player of the Week honors.
Jermaine Jackson has emerged as a big play receiver. He is third in the Big Sky at 19.46 yards per reception. He is the emotional and vocal leader for the Idaho receivers. He played limited action in 2021 because of injury but looks to make an impact this season, but has already shown his big-play ability, including a receiving touchdown and a punt return touchdown against Drake.
Terez Traynor and
Jordan Dwyer have all had big impacts, but have had injuries that have limited their availability.
6. NEW BUT VETERAN STAFF: With the coaching staff change, head coach
Jason Eck changed the entire staff. Among the 10 assistant coaches, seven have served as a coordinator in a college football setting and running backs coach
Thomas Ford is a former DII head coach.
Stanley Franks Jr. and
Matt Linehan both had outstanding careers as players at the University of Idaho.
